Chapter One (18 page)

He’d be so surprised she was willing to spread her legs for him, he wouldn’t even notice she wasn’t giving him anything she didn’t really want to give. He’d dive into her pussy, so happy she was giving it up to him after all these years, he wouldn’t have time to realize she was the one in total control of the situation, that she was the one calling all the shots.

He’d just think he was in charge. And by the time he figured it out, she’d have fulfilled the terms of the bet, fucked his brains out and be on her way. Door closed.

Heart protected.

She turned away from the window and regarded her traitorous friends with a sly grin. “You know. You’re absolutely right. It’s about damn time I throw Rand McKay down and fuck him. I’ll do it.”

“You mean, you’ll do
him
?” Callie asked. “After all these years, you’re finally going to screw Rand?

“Yes, I’ll do
him
. I’ll fuck Rand McKay.”

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Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

and the world was her oyster. Men would stand on their heads if she asked them to.

She’d almost married a few of them. They really were nice guys. Nice, sweet, safe guys. She’d really tried to make it all the way to the altar with them. Until she came to her senses and realized how utterly bored she’d be. Because even though Chapter Two

she only fucked men she could control, she knew she’d never be happy with a man like that.

Blair sat in her office and tapped her nails on her desk, Catch-22. Damned if she did and damned if she didn’t.

staring out the window and pondering her epic blunder. How Who needed to get married anyway? She could have could she have set the terms of the bet in such a way that she her pick of any man in Silverwood. She’d been wined and was stuck having to seduce Rand McKay?

dined and romanced by many of them, and though she left Not that there’d be much effort on her part in the them all, she left them with smiles on their faces and fond seduction arena. He was primed and ready for her, and as he’d memories of the best sex they’d ever had. And no regrets on told her yesterday, all she had to do was go to him and he’d their part.

take her on.

So she got a little lonely now and then. Lots of women Arrogant prick.

spent their lives alone. She was used to getting her own way It wasn’t in her nature to prostrate herself in front of a and she wasn’t about to change now. It was probably best she man. She was the ice queen, goddammit, an image she’d spent remained single and unattached. And completely in charge of years perfecting: untouchable, untamable, wicked and out of her life.

control. She had a reputation as a ball buster, a woman in Now she had to spend the weekend fucking a man she charge. Every woman envied her. Every man feared her.

couldn’t direct. Her logical, controlling mind dreaded it. Her Every man except Rand, who’d never once bought her body zinged with anticipation.

act.

Traitor.

Because that’s all it was. An act. And he damn well How to do it, though? She couldn’t—wouldn’t—walk knew it.

up to him and put her fate in his hands. Oh, no, he’d enjoy that Dickhead. How the hell he knew it was beyond her, but way too much. She refused to hand her power to him on a he did know. And that’s why she had steered clear of him all silver platter.

these years. Other men fell at her feet to worship her, to do It had to be something more subtle, which was going to anything she wanted them to. She only had to snap her fingers be difficult since subtle wasn’t exactly her typical method.

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Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

He knew her inside and out, so she’d have to surprise Casting a critical eye on her femme fatale outfits, she him.

chose one she knew would cause maximum distraction.

Damsel in distress! That was it. Since Blair was the last Scandalously short, hip riding, thigh-length skirt that swirled woman on earth to ever play that card, he’d be surprised as hell around her legs when she walked. Belly skimming, tight when she played it on him. He’d be shell shocked and spandex top in white to show off her tan. Low cut with a scoop scratching his head, trying to figure out her angle. By the time neck to accentuate her cleavage and just short enough to let her she wrestled him to ground and had his pants off, it would be crystal belly ring peek out underneath the hem.

too late. He’d give in and she’d have control over the situation.

She took a long shower, dried her hair until the auburn He’d be so damn happy to have his cock in her pussy, he tresses shone brightly and curled in soft waves around her wouldn’t care how it got there.

shoulders, then dressed. She chose a pair of wedge heeled She’d win, he’d lose, and she’d fulfill the terms of the sandals to show off her well-toned calves, then checked her bet.

appearance in the mirror.

Admittedly, the thought of fucking Rand had her If Rand McKay didn’t get a hard on when he saw her, steamy hot and anticipating a wild ride. The men she’d been he wasn’t a man.

screwing for the past fifteen years hadn’t exactly lit all her Devious plan worked out in her head, she grabbed her fires. Barely enough to flicker a candle, actually. Any hot purse and headed out the door, calling Callie on her cell phone action came from her own hand or after giving a man detailed so her friends would know the game was on. Her intent was to instructions and a road map to her pussy. And nine times out of wind up at Rand’s house tonight, so if Abby and Callie wanted ten they still didn’t get it right.

to take a peek and make sure she was fulfilling her part of the She’d just bet Rand knew his way around a woman’s bargain, they were welcome to come on over.

pussy. Blindfolded. With his hands tied behind his back.

She had every intention of making sure they knew Her nipples tightened at the remembered feel of his exactly where she was. She’d made the bet, they’d chosen her hands cupping her breasts, his thumbs sweeping over the taut man, and she was damn well going to fuck him.

buds with an expert touch that had her panting like a dog in heat.

What a long freakin’ day. Rand blew out a breath, She’d have to play this game very carefully. And in the anticipating a cold beer as soon as he walked through the door game of sex, she was a master.

at home. What he hadn’t anticipated was the sight of sexy, First thing to do was select her outfit. She turned off her tanned legs bent over the open hood of a white Mercedes right computer and strolled out of her home office and into her outside the entrance to his property. He pulled the Jeep to a bedroom, swinging open the door to her walk-in closet and stop behind Blair’s car and stepped out.

flipping on the light.

84

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

She didn’t even bother to raise her head from He stood and wiped his hands on his jeans. “Go start it underneath the hood of her car, just tapped one sandaled foot up.”

and hummed. The slight breeze blew her flowery skirt just

“You get it fixed?”

enough to give him a glimpse of sleek, slender thighs and the That was not a hopeful expression on her face. “Not lower curve of one fine ass. He swallowed past the dry lump in sure. Give it a try.”

his throat and tamped down the lump of flesh in his jeans She slid behind the wheel and cranked the engine. Of quickly springing to life.

course he hadn’t bothered to slip the wire back into place, so Sliding next to her, he looked under the hood.

the engine didn’t turn over. He could have sworn he saw a

“Problem?”

triumphant smirk on her face. “Nothing’s happening.”

“No, I’m working on my tan.”

“Hmmm,” she said, managing to sound irritated and She had a smart mouth. Such a pretty mouth, too. Full, disappointed.

pink, pouty lips he’d like to slide his dick between. Adjusting He leaned over the engine again, jimmying a couple of himself to accommodate his growing discomfort, he said, the wires for effect. A few more seconds and he’d give her the

“Funny. So what’s the problem?”

bad news, then take over. She’d started this game. He planned With a slow turn of her head in his direction, she tilted to take every advantage of it. Because as far as he was her sunglasses partway down her nose, revealing crystal blue concerned, Blair had thrown down the gauntlet. She had come eyes. “If I knew what the problem was, would I be here?”

to him. Maybe not exactly in the way he’d wanted, but when

“Scoot.” He bumped her hip. “What’s it not doing?”

had Blair ever done anything the conventional way?

“Running, dumb ass.”

“I don’t know what the problem is. Let me hook it up to

“Careful with those smartass replies. I’m not above my Jeep and tow it onto my property. I can take a look at it tossing you over my knee right here, baring your ass and there.”

spanking you.”

“Oh, you can call me a tow truck. I’ll just wait here,”

Her sharp hiss of outraged breath was music to his ears.

she said, slipping out of the car to look at him over the roof.

He checked the battery, which was fine. Electrical system was

“Won’t work. Head on accident out on I-34. Both operational. Everything was fine, with the exception of one wreckers are on scene.”

loose wire that Blair had obviously jerked out to make sure the

“Well damn.” She chewed her bottom lip.

car wouldn’t start. And it wasn’t an easy wire to see. He’d

“You got a date?”

gotten lucky finding it.

Her lips curled. “Honey, I’ve always got a date.”

Smart girl. The question was, why? Though it didn’t Yeah, right. “Get in the Jeep, Blair. You’re wilting out take a rocket scientist to figure it out.

in this heat. Start it up and back it in front of your car.”

85

Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

“Fine.” She grabbed her purse and sauntered over to the Most women wouldn’t even get out of the car ’til he Jeep, doing an expert job of backing it up perfectly in line with shooed Rascal away. Not Blair, though. She opened the door her Mercedes. In short order he had the tow line set, then slid and greeted Rascal with an enthusiastic squeal, petting him and into the driver’s seat of the Jeep and drove onto the entrance of scratching his ears. Soon she was bent down and lavishing his land.

attention all over the mangy beast, cooing and making baby Blair stayed mute throughout the five minute drive sounds. And Rascal was loving every second of it.

down the dirt road. Rand took the opportunity to ogle her Well, she’d passed that test. He shook his head. “Come barely concealed body. She’d dressed to kill in that outfit. And on inside before he gets his dirty paws all over your white top.”

she was damn near killing him. Midriff baring tight little shirt Blair grinned at Rascal, stood and patted the dog’s that showed off her gorgeous tits and that scandalously short head. Rascal stepped up right beside Blair and kept up with her skirt that barely covered her ass, revealing her long legs.

as they headed toward the house. “Oh, I don’t mind. I love She made his dick twitch. And her appearance outside dogs.”

the gate of his property had been as intentional as the clothes Rascal bounded up the steps ahead of them, shooting she wore. Good thing the drive was short, because his dick was through the door as soon as Rand opened it. “We won’t see getting longer with every passing second.

him the rest of the night. He’ll plop down on one of my air And her scent permeated the cab of the Jeep. Nothing conditioner vents and pass out.”

flowery or perfumy, either. No, Blair was much more subtle Blair snorted. “Can’t blame him. It’s damn hot out than that. She let her natural fragrance do the talking for her.

there.”

Soap, shampoo and the smell of a nice clean woman was all it

“He hangs out in the barn all day where’s it cool and took to drive him up the wall.

shady. Don’t let his sad look fool you.” Rand realized he’d By the time he took the circular curve and parked in never had Blair in his house before. Hell, he rarely brought front of the ranch house, he was primed and ready, his dick women here. Home was his refuge, his place to get away from twitching like a divining rod that had just found the mother everything and everyone. To bring a woman in here would be lode of water.

an invasion of his personal space, his privacy. It was a rare Rascal, his collie, came bounding toward them from the occurrence.

back of the house, barking and wagging his tail.

Blair, however, was different. He wanted her here, had He judged a lot of women by how they treated his dog.

wanted her here for years. The fact she showed up on the edge Rascal wasn’t what you’d call a good looking dog. Part of his property meant something to him. A first step. He’d sheepdog and Lord only knew what else, he was mostly a mess waited a long time for this.

of dirt and tangled, matted hair with a long tongue just made for copious amounts of slobber.

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Jaci Burton/
Wild, Wicked & Wanton
/Unedited Advance Reading Copy Berkley Heat/May, 2007

“You gonna fix my car?” she asked, skimming her

“Thanks.”

fingertips over the polished surface of his grandma’s antique He had to give her this: she was calm. Or a damn good end table.

actress. The tension between them, as it had always been,

“Too hot outside right now. Thought we’d relax a bit, sizzled the air between them. There was a combustible quality have a beer or two and talk. Wait for it to cool down outside.”

about their altercations. Even the simplest conversation tended She pulled her sunglasses off and tucked them in her to turn down a stormy road, sexual tension crackling between purse, then laid the bag on the table and slipped into the them.

kitchen to wash the dog goobers off her hands. “I suppose I Even now, without her having to say a thing, her body don’t have much of a choice, do I?”